One Anonymous Tip Leads Champaign Police to Six Stolen Guns

An anonymous tip lead Champaign police detectives to a home in the 1200 block of Gertrude Avenue where five stolen handguns and one 12 gauge shotgun were recovered.

“Champaign Police have been working diligently to remove unauthorized guns from our city streets. In light of the recent shootings and shots fired calls, it is apparent that there are guns being placed in the wrong hands,” says Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb.

On April 24 at 3:17 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 1200 block of Gertrude Avenue after receiving information that a suspect in a vehicle was in possession of stolen firearms. The unoccupied suspect vehicle was located in a residential driveway on Gertrude Avenue. Ryan M. Anderson, 30, and Christopher A. Hollingsworth, 26, both of Champaign, were later detained after they exited the residence.

Champaign Police detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and received permission from the home owner to search the residence and garage. During the search, officers located one stolen handgun in the garage. This handgun was reported as stolen from a burglary at Blue Ridge Backwoods in Monticello, Illinois. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered four handguns and one shotgun. All of these firearms were reported stolen from the burglary in Monticello.

Both Anderson and Hollingsworth were arrested and transported to the Champaign County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon and Possession of a Stolen Firearm by a Felon.

“Information received from the community is valuable to law enforcement. Without the public’s help, solving these crimes can be difficult,” Cobb added. The public can anonymously report crimes through Crime Stoppers by calling 373-8477 (TIPS.) Information can also be sent by anonymous web tip by going to: www.373tips.com or by texting keyword “CCTIP” plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).